Post by vpainter on Aug 31, 2014 10:06:18 GMT

If you are offered Aramco housing, I recommend you take it and then once you are here and you want to change to RAA, you could probably do so. Your wife will probably be happier in Aramco housing where she will have bus service, since she cannot drive, unless you plan to hire/sponsor her a private driver.

All company housing is assigned on the basis of availability at the time of your arrival and usually assigned the week of your arrival.

Couples with 0 to 1 child are assigned to a 2 BR townhouse, apartment, house. There is no negotiation to receive a 3BR.

Depending on your department and on what day you arrive, will depend on how many days you have prior to going to work. If you arrive on a Thursday, you will have the 2 weekend days. If you arrive during the week you may get only 1 day. First day of work is usually orientation and taking care of getting your ID, payroll set up, etc.

Post by emailfaisal85 on Sept 2, 2014 11:01:16 GMT

Hi Vpainter,

I am originally from India. I have offer from Saudi aramco. I will be working as Senior IT yst with jobe code 12. I need to know the working environment and culture Aramco Has. In addition, I do have following questions. Requesting you to please reply with the helpful answers. Thank You.

As per my offer letter, I will be staying in Rakah compund on family status untill Ras Tanura housing available. Do Rakah have vacancy for family accomodations?

What should we expect for the monthly expenses in Al Rakah for groceries, utilities, restaurants, travel , maids? We dont indulge much and prefer home cooked meals. But if we were to travel, have activities for the kids and moderate entertainment, what should we be looking at?

What should be the We have parents and siblings living in India that we want them to visit us, is it possible for them to get multiple entry visitor visa?

Do We have company owned transportations for Makkah and Madina Cities as I have plan to perform Umrah once in a month?

I am not able to recollect all questions. Can you kindly fwd me all the emails you forwarded to other members in this specific foruma nd other forums on Rakah compound living, so that I can gather useful information as well. Thanks a lot in advance.

Post by vpainter on Sept 3, 2014 19:55:37 GMT

Yes, there are houses available in Rakah if they have been renovated at the time of your arrival. Housing is assigned the week of your arrival depending on availability.

I can not give you the answer to how much will you need to live on. It depends on what foods you buy for your home cooking, it depends on how often you travel and where, it depends on what activities you place your kids in and what entertainment you enjoy.

The 2000 - 3000 USD/month will probably cover expenses while in kingdom. As far as travel only you can answer that.

Whether you can get multi entry/exit visas depends on your country and KSA agreements. It will also depend on if it is the employees family or the wife's family. Previously for us, the wife's family received a single entry/exit visa and the employee's family a multi-entry/exit visa. But we haven't had any family visit in several years and things change. So I do not know what the current government rules are regarding visitor visas for family.

If you want to go to Makkah and Madinah it is on your ownand at your expense. There is no company provided transportation to go there that I have ever heard about.

Post by Hero55 on Sept 6, 2014 12:48:54 GMT

Hi VPI am sorry for such silly question, but why they place some people temporary in Rakkah and refuse to place other in Rakkah. I really got confused. I know there are many people including my self who struggled to find a place in Rakkah or even the tower. Why they don't just satisfy people. I know many people who dream to life in abq but got placed in rakkah and vise versa !!??

Post by GroveWanderer on Sept 8, 2014 12:07:47 GMT

Housing assignment is based on various factors but one very important one is availability at the time of arrival (or around a week or so before).

If, a week or so before someone is due to arrive, there is no suitable housing for them in say, Abqaiq, they will have to be be assigned housing somewhere else. A person arriving a week later might get a house in Abqaiq simply because one has become available in the intervening period.

People move in and out of housing on a daily basis, so availability is in a state of constant flux.

Post by bong1256 on Sept 17, 2014 6:27:53 GMT

Dear VP

I have a question.As far as I know, there are only available housing in Rakah compound or Dhahran tower.So now many expats who join the KSA receive the housing on Rakah or Dhahran.

I am going to work in refinery plant at Rastanura.So I wonder that Can I change my housing location from other site to RT compound?I want to live in RT. Here is the wonderful site to stay with my family. Also it's close to work.

Actually I think that nobody guarantee my housing location. I want to change so I am going to put me the bid list. what about your opinion?

Can I enter the RT compound?

So I have one more question. I want to know about promotion!!annual salary increase is ok ( 3~ 5%) no one guarantee about promotion!!I already know that. but if someone got promotion, for example from 12 grade to 13 grade, how much increase base salary about promotion??

Post by vpainter on Sept 22, 2014 4:16:29 GMT

Post by sunchild8182 on Nov 6, 2014 15:36:22 GMT

Hi everyone! My husband and i are in the paper work processing (visa, health and medical clearance ect.) to start with saudi aramco. We have been told we will have a 3 bedroom (we have 3 kids). We have also been told we wont know exactly where we will live until 5 days before our arrival there. My expectations are somewhat based on whatever pictures and floor plans i have been able to see thus far via internet. Both exited and reluctant as I'm sure it will have an adjustment period for all of us.Thanks!!Kim